Thoughts on 6ACV14 - The Silence of the Clamps - SPOILERS

[Reply #240 on:]

I believe the Space Pope was actually introduced (if by introduced you mean the first time we see him in person) in the Duh-Vinci Code.

Just sayin'...

If you insist on getting nitpicky, technically the Space Pope's first appearance was in "I Dated A Robot" when he appeared after the propaganda film about humans dating robots.

Regardless, my point still stands that the Space Pope was squandered in this episode.

Also, I was really disappointed by the Space Pope's voice. It was just a regular impression of how any Pope would speak, instead of a giant talking reptile.

[Reply #241 on:]

If you insist on getting nitpicky, technically the Space Pope's first appearance was in "I Dated A Robot" when he appeared after the propaganda film about humans dating robots.

Hence this part of my post:

(if by introduced you mean the first time we see him in person)

[Reply #242 on:]

Hence this part of my post:

(if by introduced you mean the first time we see him in person)

[/quote]

Hence...

If you insist on getting nitpicky...

It's so sad that posters are more interested in nitpicking, such as harping on minor, irrelevant, and arguable "mistakes", instead of writing constructive comments on the point another poster is making about the topic.

[Reply #243 on:]

"Contructive comments"? Aren't you the one who keeps throwing personal insults at any poster who in any way has a differing opinion to yours in the various episode review threads?

Yeah, that is sad...

Hmm... But now I'm going off-topic, I'll have to save this squandered post!

Space Pope: I suppose I could agree that the Space Pope's first speaking role was somewhat squandered but it's not like the character is totally ruined by that. He could still make more appearances in more pivotal roles and/or have an episode devoted to the whole idea of the Space-Religion (Space-Catholocism?) that he's pope of.

[Reply #244 on:]

I absolutely loved that episode.
It felt like a classic episode of Futurama for me.
I'd rate it 9/10 because of the space pope which is useless and unfunny and for the bleeping, it would have been funnier if they actually cursed using futuristic words.
But the best part of the episode is when Clamps destroys all the others robots to be hired at Planet Express, and Hermes said "We'll start with Andrew" That was great!

And i read the others comments: You shouldn't care of the Space pope, it is so unfunny and useless, the episode is good, but you should stop talking about a such character.

[Reply #245 on:]

And i read the others comments: You shouldn't care of the Space pope, it is so unfunny and useless, the episode is good, but you should stop talking about a such character.

I think people are talking about it because the very first mention of the Space Pope was so hilarious and random, and this, as his first speaking role, was rather underwhelming.
Regardless, I thought this was a pretty good episode.

[Reply #246 on:]

I thin people are talking about it because the very first mention of the Space Pope was so hilarious and random, and this, as his first speaking role, was rather underwhelming.
Regardless, I thought this was a pretty good episode.

He appeared and spoke in 'Futurama The Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis: Liquid Diamond is Forever!', and many, many other Futurama comics. No one cared then.

[Reply #247 on:]

I thin people are talking about it because the very first mention of the Space Pope was so hilarious and random, and this, as his first speaking role, was rather underwhelming.
Regardless, I thought this was a pretty good episode.

He appeared and spoke in 'Futurama The Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis: Liquid Diamond is Forever!', and many, many other Futurama comics. No one cared then.

No one cares about the comics.

[Reply #248 on:]

No one cares about the comics.

Some do....

[Reply #249 on:]

It's okay to read the Futurama comics. But if someone think they had to be treated as real episodes...

[Reply #250 on:]

It's okay to read the Futurama comics. But if someone think they had to be treated as real episodes...

Sometimes they can reference each other. And stuff. You shut up!

[Reply #251 on:]

Space Pope: I suppose I could agree that the Space Pope's first speaking role was somewhat squandered but it's not like the character is totally ruined by that. He could still make more appearances in more pivotal roles and/or have an episode devoted to the whole idea of the Space-Religion (Space-Catholocism?) that he's pope of.

As far as I'm concerned, he is ruined in that I wouldn't really care if they made an episode about him now.
The reason the "brought to you by the Space Pope" bit in I Dated a Robot hit such a chord with my sense of humour was that it was so utterly batshit insane. It was a reasonable gag on its own, which was raised several levels by an insane voice and brilliant comic timing.
To go from something so odd and with such great characterisation to something so bland has just killed it for me.

[Reply #252 on:]

Unfortunately the writers are now pandering to the audience that will watch them on Comedy Central and I just think that Futurama has lost a little something something recently. This episode did in some ways feel a lot more like a classic episode, but recently I've come to accept that I'll be waiting for the funny one liners and pop-culture references; not to mention breaking the fourth wall so many times in one ep that it's reduced to dust, and I'll not be able to enjoy them like I do the classics.

It's disappointing that I can't watch the new episodes without being aware that I'm watching new episodes; I just don't get the same feeling of happiness whilst watching them.

There are several exceptions, by the way, but watching this episode last night really drove it home. I've had to start looking on the episodes as something else, and not as my beloved Futurama.

[Reply #253 on:]

I agree that the Space Pope was wasted in this ep, in fact in hindsight it was probably one of the reasons I rated this ep so relatively low. I mean, for starters you know there's a problem when a one second or so clip from I Dated A Robot sticks in your memory much more than a proper speaking role which is instantly forgettable. What the hell were they thinking regarding this character? The Space Pope was totally unfunny and had no real personality at all! The character design is about the only thing going for it...

In I Dated A Robot his tiny appearance was hilarious, probably one of the best character introductions I've ever seen, even though he wasn’t in person. It gave the impression that the Space Pope was some batshit insane character that was also quite secretive. I wish they'd have left the mystery surrounding him rather than introduce such a wooden, boring, unfunny character that initially held such promise. I know there are other eps we've seen him in, but to be frank aside from I Dated A Robot, all of his appearances have been completely forgettable. They should have built up the mystery with more crazy random appearances like a running joke, and then introduce him properly when the novelty had worn off. Instead what we got was a total waste and I’d rather not see him again unless things have changed, which I have my doubts they will...

[Reply #254 on:]

Even though I expressed that I thought the Space Pope was squandered in this episode, I don't think that his character has been irreparably damaged, and should never appear again.

If the Futurama writers can create an episode featuring the Space Pope, and portray him as the crazy-religious, moral crusading, totalitarian theocrat that was alluded to in the hilarious "I Dated A Robot" propaganda film, that could be a great episode. And if it was great, I wouldn't care if the proper depiction of the Space Pope contradicted that lame depiction of the Space Pope in this episode.

The essential characteristics of a great Space Pope would be he's crazy, and he has great voice acting that is appropriate for a giant talking lizard. If the proposed Space Pope episode accomplished those two things, like I said, I wouldn't care that they contradicted his depiction in "Silence of the Clamps", because it would be so much better!

[Reply #255 on:]

It's so sad that posters are more interested in nitpicking, such as harping on minor, irrelevant, and arguable "mistakes", instead of writing constructive comments on the point another poster is making about the topic.

Well, what do you expect from the Internet?

[Reply #256 on:]

Even though I expressed that I thought the Space Pope was squandered in this episode, I don't think that his character has been irreparably damaged, and should never appear again.

If the Futurama writers can create an episode featuring the Space Pope, and portray him as the crazy-religious, moral crusading, totalitarian theocrat that was alluded to in the hilarious "I Dated A Robot" propaganda film, that could be a great episode. And if it was great, I wouldn't care if the proper depiction of the Space Pope contradicted that lame depiction of the Space Pope in this episode.

The essential characteristics of a great Space Pope would be he's crazy, and he has great voice acting that is appropriate for a giant talking lizard. If the proposed Space Pope episode accomplished those two things, like I said, I wouldn't care that they contradicted his depiction in "Silence of the Clamps", because it would be so much better!

The contradiction would be annoying though and could possibly make his appearance in The Silence Of The Clamps even worse! I would however be in favour of a fresh appearance of the Space Pope in which he’s crazy and actually funny as a result of that, but no sooner than Season 7...

Remember I said I’d rather not see him again unless things have changed, but because I have my doubts that they would then I really would rather not see him again unless things are very different. Do you honestly think he will change if he appears again in a future episode given his performance in this? Maybe we would be happy if he did, but realistically do you see that happening? I don’t, and that’s why I said what I did...

[Reply #257 on:]

Maybe he only used an Italian accent for the sake of the Donbot and his party ...

Does anyone know if the Space Pope speaks in any other episodes?

[Reply #258 on:]

I liked this episode -- I don't know why so many posters are so critical of it.

I really liked Clamps and the Mafia bots, and enjoyed all the parodies from the Godfather movies. But I didn't like yokel-Bender or the Billy West joke. I'm kinda glad he was killed and wasn't Bender -- that twist was much better than Bender pretending to be a yokel the whole time.

The bleeped out swearing in this episode was kinda funny, and didn't bother me because I assume those were references from the Godfather or probably Goodfellas.

But it was strange having Dr. Zoidberg be the hero of the episode. Although I have to admit that Zoidberg is 2 for 2 against robots.

I loved the Bender's crime "burglarsonlarceny". It would've been perfect if we got to see him actually commit that crime.

[Reply #259 on:]

I love the Robot Mafia. The ENTIRE Robot Mafia. I was kinda rootin' for Clamps to put the footcups to Zoidberg in that great fight at the end...The Bender-at-the-pizza-place twist worked well (especially since it had the "your pizza will be here soon, the delivery boy is on his way" line). The country bumpkin "Bender" was funny too, except for his name being Billy West and Fry laughing at how fake it sounds, that was a little too easy and kind of lame. The rest was good-to-great though. 8/10.

[Reply #260 on:]

Just got the volume 6 dvd, let's see how well the episodes go when they are in their intended order...

The Silence of the Clamps is first, I've only watched I think 6 minutes of it so far and actually, it's not as bad as I remembered it being. I haven't seen it since its initial airing...Bender's crying of "I'm scared and great at sex!" caught me off guard and I was dying laughing

That overly dramatically music when Bender leaves hahah...in the words of Leela, "oh Lord"

"Reckon I was born a farmer, folks say my mama was a hoe" hahah. And I still liked that Billy West line despite the criticism I have seen. Still not a fan of the bleeping.

Another great line - Professor: I refuse to believe anyone is happy!

[Reply #261 on:]

Just for confirmation, the eps are in production order on the 6B DVD/Blu-ray, right?

[Reply #262 on:]

I really like the Billy West line, hee hee.

This is a much better first episode than Neutopia could ever hope to be, at any rate.

On the DVD, everything is bleeped as it was when it aired on CC, then?

[Reply #263 on:]

Just for confirmation, the eps are in production order on the 6B DVD/Blu-ray, right?

I believe so, yes. It is not in the airing order.

I really like the Billy West line, hee hee.

This is a much better first episode than Neutopia could ever hope to be, at any rate.

On the DVD, everything is bleeped as it was when it aired on CC, then?

I agree with everything you just said. And yeah, it was bleeped out just like on CC.

[Reply #264 on:]

I don't see how people could think it wouldn't be bleeped on the DVD, that would ruin the whole point of the jokes...

[Reply #265 on:]

I don't see how people could think it wouldn't be bleeped on the DVD, that would ruin the whole point of the jokes...

Maybe there's an Easter Egg that allows you to hear the original dialog?

[Reply #266 on:]

They probably didn't really swear, they say on the commentary for Bender's Game that Katey Sagal never actually swore when Leela's shock collar bleeped it out.

[Reply #267 on:]

I don't see how people could think it wouldn't be bleeped on the DVD, that would ruin the whole point of the jokes...

I agree, I just wanted to make sure.

[Reply #268 on:]

I see 

Anyway, the best part of the episode and possibly the best line in 6B...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHfOejlvVsY

[Reply #269 on:]

I don't get all the hate for this episode. I found it quite entertaining, and humorous. The plot was a little off, but not to much. I also loved some of the lines in here. "No. No? NO. NOOOOOOO!!!!!" "Not innoguiltycent!" Also the meatball scene. A solid 8/10

[Reply #270 on:]

I don't see how people could think it wouldn't be bleeped on the DVD, that would ruin the whole point of the jokes...

Maybe there's an Easter Egg that allows you to hear the original dialog?

According to the commentary, Maurice did go all the way with the swearing. However they deleted the parts of the word they were bleeping in case it "fell into enemy hands."

[Reply #271 on:]

I wonder what it would sounds like to hear Zoidy drop the F-Bomb...

[Reply #272 on:]

I'm sure Billy West does it all the time.

[Reply #273 on:]

And that's why I would also like to hear Zapp, Professor, and Fry drop the F-Bomb also.

[Reply #274 on:]

Anyway, the best part of the episode and possibly the best line in 6B...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHfOejlvVsY

I do love that joke, a fresh way of telling an old classic. I hope they manage to find more ways to tell that joke in future eps too, it's always a laugh!...

[Reply #275 on:]

They also do that with Bender'd catchphrase, but they mix it up so much that they never get to the original, like: "Bite my tiny metal ass." (Benderama)

[Reply #276 on:]

I guess so, like "Bite my glorious golden ass" and "Bite my wooden splintery ass", those were great, but still, I find the Professors variations of "Good news everyone" a little bit funnier. They seem more inventive and ironic, like his "Bad news, nobody!" line from Less Than Hero. I think that the "Who likes good news? Everyone" line just about takes the biscuit though...

[Reply #277 on:]

"Bad news, me."
"Good news, multiplayers!"
"Movietone news, everyone!"

[Reply #278 on:]

I agree with Otis. The Professor's catchphrase never gets old. Unfortunately, Bender's does.

[Reply #279 on:]

I guess so, like "Bite my glorious golden ass" and "Bite my wooden splintery ass", those were great, but still, I find the Professors variations of "Good news everyone" a little bit funnier. They seem more inventive and ironic, like his "Bad news, nobody!" line from Less Than Hero. I think that the "Who likes good news? Everyone" line just about takes the biscuit though...

The opinions of that line are all over the place. Still, I just wish they would use the original catchphrase again.